This week we spent more than a day in Kiev. We were down on Wednesday for a combined District Meeting which went really well. It was conducted by President Steinagel. Then we had interviews and Elder Drasso and I had the chance to go to the temple for a session! I love the Kiev Temple and the temple in general. I feel like 6 weeks is not often enough for me to go, but I know that it's just for these next 2 years. After this I definitely need to strategically locate myself close to temples. We were then asked to help with sealings. It was really awesome. The sealer spoke English though which was kinda too bad. We helped him pronounce some of the names sometimes. I sat there and imagined someday when all the temple workers and sealers are going to be native Ukrainians. That day is not that far off and it's going to be amazing. I imagined a Ukrainian man with the same spiritual and ecclesiastical experience as that man and I know that isn't that far off. I'm so excited to be a part of this work here.
I got some mail this past week and found out something really cool. A latino friends wrote me from Montreal and said she was talking to a friend of hers from Peru. She said I met her in Montreal, but might not remember her. They were talking and the Peruvian, Andrea, mentioned that her brother would be serving in Ukraine. My friend said, cool, maybe they'll meet. Then they next day she saw a picture of me with Elder Saenz at the mission office on his first day! So, apparently I know Elder Saenz' sister Andrea. It must be God's will that we serve in Ukraine together. I love when things like that happen.
On Friday we went out to visit a family in a small village with the Branch President Solomein. We left before 07:00 and didn't get home until about 17:30. It was quite the trip. We took a bus to some other village and ended up walking about 6 km on the snowy, icy road and then hitched another 12 km. The three of us squeezed in the front seat of a van with the driver for an exciting ride. It's a pretty isolated spot so it's pretty understandable that they can't make it to Church. The village is called Dobryanka if somebody wanted to look it up on a map. We could see the Belarus border from where we were, just a tree line, but pretty neat. I don't completely understand why people choose to live out there. There are a lot of villages like that all over the country.
The coolest thing this week was Sunday! We had 35 people in sacrament meeting! 4 of them where our investigators and 3 more were less actives we've been working with. We made a huge amount of apple pie on Saturday night for the little lunch we had after the meetings on Sunday. That was a good time. I love this branch. I'm attaching a picture of the branch on that day (after a few people had already left) and a me in front of the temple. I love this Branch.
I love serving here. I'm grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord full-time. I know this Church is God's Kingdom on the earth today. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ and am so grateful for His example to me. He's the awesome big brother I don't have on earth. Thanks all for your love and support. I feel your prayers for me.
Love,
Elder Mahoney
NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
No comments:
Post a Comment